Which director(s) do violence the best

General Jack D. Ripper

Joined: Mar 27, 2024

Posts: 1,722

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

The Tarantino thread got me thinking about that.

I have to say Tarantino, but Coen brothers are a close second. Exhibit A is the death of Pitt in Burn After reading.

1

1 edit

Bruce Almighty

Joined: Mar 25, 2011

Posts: 39,139

User Profile

Private Message

Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

8:58a, 3/8/25

AG

Craig Zahler

Sapper Redux

Joined: Oct 17, 2010

Posts: 18,300

User Profile

Private Message

Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

9:19a, 3/8/25

Spielberg is a master of showing incredible action scenes in a way that you can follow and still feel immersed in.

2

Burrus86

Joined: Dec 28, 2011

Posts: 7,206

User Profile

Private Message

Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

9:29a, 3/8/25

AG

Sam Peckinpah

3

CheeseSndwch

Joined: Dec 14, 2005

Posts: 3,314

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

9:30a, 3/8/25

The Best: Paul Verhoeven's squib work in Robocop and Total Recall is a masterclass in violence/practical effects.

Honorable Mention: John McTiernan who directed Predator and Diehard back to back.

2

Head Ninja In Charge

Joined: Oct 10, 2005

Posts: 19,339

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

10:39a, 3/8/25

AG

1. John Woo
2. David Cronenberg
3. Quentin Tarantino

Sooper Jeenyus

Joined: Jun 14, 2010

Posts: 3,469

User Profile

Private Message

Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

10:41a, 3/8/25

AG

I find Tarantino's "over the top" style, while cartoonish, to be so satisfying, for lack of better description. Loved when the Manson crew got their comeuppance in OUATIH, for instance.

But, that sort of cinematic violence is vastly different than the realism of Saving Private Ryan or The Departed. Both are impactful but in much different ways.

3

Brian Earl Spilner

Joined: Aug 6, 2013

Posts: 68,085

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

4:14p, 3/8/25

AG

I love the hand-to-hand combat in the John Wick series and in Atomic Blonde.

So David Leitch must be mentioned.

1

2 edits

BurnetAggie99

Joined: Apr 20, 2007

Posts: 25,937

User Profile

Private Message

Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

5:23p, 3/8/25

John McTiernan should be mentioned had Die Hard, Predator, Die Hard with a Vengeance,

1

gggmann

Joined: Aug 18, 2019

Posts: 2,300

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

6:01p, 3/8/25

AG

Gareth Evans - "The Raid" and "The Raid 2".

Takashi Miike - "Ichi The Killer", "Dead or Alive", and "Audition"

jokershady

Joined: Feb 1, 2007

Posts: 22,399

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

6:10p, 3/8/25

AG

Guess it depends on your definition of violence cause it's pretty broad.

General violence? Blood and guts? Spectacle (I.e. slow motion/glamourous)? Martial arts? Choot'em up?

That's a hard list honestly

13B

Joined: Jan 14, 2010

Posts: 2,671

User Profile Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

6:36p, 3/8/25

Tarantino and Ritchie

Eliminatus

Joined: Mar 12, 2010

Posts: 18,096

User Profile

Private Message

Ignore User Stop Ignoring

How long do you want to ignore this user?

24 hours One week Permanently Cancel

7:41p, 3/8/25

AG

Villaneuve has my heart in this category. Something like Sicario is a masterpiece of action in my mind. Not gratuitous but so impactful and intense and realistic.